Nova frowned behind the cracked lenses of her mask.

"...Go back?"

The words hung in the air between them.

For a moment she simply stared, trying to fit them into a story that made sense.

Back to a settlement?

Back to a raider camp?

Back to... somewhere she didn't want to be?

Nova slowly lowered the pipe until its end rested against the broken concrete.

"I don't know where you came from."

Her voice remained calm, almost gentle.

"But I'm not taking you anywhere."

Another gust of wind swept through the ruined street, tugging at loose strands of her dark hair.

Her eyes drifted, almost involuntarily, to the two pristine filters hanging from the girl's belt.

"...You don't look like a scavenger."

She tilted her head slightly.

"You look like someone who's been running."

A quiet pause followed before she gave a small shrug.

"If you wanted to hurt me..." she glanced at the pipe Alia had grabbed, "...you would've already tried."

Nova shifted the weight of her backpack onto one shoulder.

"So... either we keep pointing pipes at each other until the sun goes down..."

A faint hint of humor slipped into her voice.

"...or you tell me your name."